Harmsiopanax ingens

About

Harmsiopanax ingens is a very spiny palmlike mesocaul tree in the family (Araliaceae), endemic to the montane rainforests of central New Guinea which bears a terminal rosette of deeply lobed, dentate margined, usually peltate leaves 1 m across, maple-like in shape, on equally long petioles. It ultimately attains a height of 18 m (59 ft), at which point it bears a huge panicle of flowers 5 m (16 ft) high and equally wide; the largest above ground inflorescence of any dicot plant. The panicles of H. ingens are unusual; the ultimate twigs being spikes each bearing about fifty tiny umbels, each umbel with 8 to 20 minute flowers; thus panicle, spike and umbel are all represented in a single inflorescence. Harmsiopanax ingens is monocarpic, and again the largest such plant among dicots. It was discovered in 1973 by W. R. Philipson. Its native name is makua.

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